Our Gods And Their Weapons

When we visit a temple, we often stop to admire the beautiful sculptures of our Gods and Goddesses But, how well do we understand the meaning and significance of those divine representations?

Why do some Gods look happy and benevolent while some others look fierce and hold terrible weapons?

Are these weapons meant merely to protect the virtuous from the wicked? Or, do they have some other significance?

Why are the weapons of each deity different?

Why does Shiva hold a Trishul, Vishnu, a Chakra and Devi, both?

More importantly, did our Gods always carry the weapons that they do, today?

Sumathi Sridhar's book traces the historical development of the iconography of our Gods, specifically the weapons they wield, while delving into their ever-changing cultural and symbolic significance. The book is an invaluable resource to understand how myths, symbols and iconography come together to bridge the divide between the divine and the mortal.